Beyond the Passion

Beyond the Passion

Go and find out what is meant by the Scripture that says: “It is
kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.(Matthew 9:13)

The Christian world goes back 2,000 years and more to recall the
Passion of Christ: the retreat (after a dinner with His disciples to
celebrate the feast of Passover and to institute the Holy Eucharist)
to the Garden of Gethsemane for a night of prayer; the kiss of Judas
leading to His arrest; His (instead of Barabbas) condemnation by a
wishy-washy Pontius Pilate; the taunting, and scourging at the pillar;
the agonizing climb to Calvary with a heavy cross on His back; and,
finally, His crucifixion and death. The spiritual journey...

the Christian world bursts out in triumphant joy with Christ's
Resurrection.

But for now, the hope of Easter is suspended and must yield to mass
spiritual reflection, to a deeper sense of grief and gloom, of
repentance and renewal, of penance and prayerfulness. No Christian
event is ever observed with more devotion and solemnity, and
Christians are supposed to come out of this whole exercise stronger in
faith and, therefore, better persons.

But, then, haven't we been observing Lent and Holy Week for centuries,
year after year without fail? With a predominantly Christian
population, is it a stretch to expect the Philippines emerging from
this season a better nation? So why is it that old plaints remain, and
unchristian practices continue to torment our society?

Social injustice and inequality. The rich getting richer and the poor,
poorer. A privileged few, and marginalized millions; an abusive elite,
and oppressed masses; landless and jobless millions; poorly paid
workers, widespread poverty, human rights violations.

And things seem to be getting worse if not going out of hand. The
extrajudicial killings of political activists continues to rise. The
country now tops the list of the most corrupt in Asia. A record-high
19 percent of Filipinos are in the throes of involuntary hunger. And
government officials continue to deny that the conditions are so, and
insist that the reality of these conditions be debated on the basis of
statistics, and not proven by the hard facts of day-to-day existence
experienced by ordinary Filipinos through their empty pockets, bare
family tables and hungry stomachs.

Is it because, despite our extraordinary Lenten exertions (e.g.,
self-flagellation, days of prayer and fasting), we have lost sight of
the real meaning of Christianity? Or have we come to believe that
carrying social and political crosses on our backs is the ultimate
Christian act, and never mind if they encourage inhumanity? Pain,
sacrifice, are they the fulfillment of Christianity?

Or is it simply because, we Filipinos are exhibiting symptoms similar
to those indicative of the battered wife syndrome (BWS)"a general
feeling of helplessness, low self-esteem, anger, anxiety and lack of
power and choice to craft one's future? Is abject surrender a
Christian act?

Or is it because, we have been overwhelmed by what psychologist Philip
Zimbardo calls the "Lucifer Effect" the tendency to go with the flow,
to conform, to submit, yield, comply, accept, no matter how good our
intentions, things as they are, after being bombarded daily with
stories, if not personal experiences, of government and corporate
malfeasance and corruption, of military and police cruelty or
indifference?

With the coming elections in mind that the Passion of Christ is not
only about suffering, or about human failings and divine forgiveness;
or about repentance and penance and prayer; or about renewing the self.



The Passion of Christ is, as importantly, about facing up to and
overcoming the world's iniquities against man.



To be a follower of Christ is also to be a man for others. This may be
a difficult act. But the Passion did not mean to teach passive
Christianity. The Passion did not spell defeat and surrender,



it made Resurrection possible.



Christ proved the power of self-denial and love for others by
conquering a world driven by an "eye-for-an-eye, tooth-for-a-tooth"
philosophy.

Under our present circumstances,
can we really be proud of our being a Christian nation? Maybe,
we have yet to find out what being a true Christian and kindness mean.



inq7

...The Passion of Christ is, as importantly, about facing up to and
overcoming the world’s iniquities against man...




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